I was just curious as to what kind of fundraising efforts that other museums and historical societies has undertaken in the past. I would greatly appreciate any ideas and new perspectives that anyone may have.

Thanks!
Bob Barcus

Not sure how well this would go over in "the community" if the same idea were applied to the tender of a steam locomotive, but this is the Collings Foundation's B-24J Liberator -- purported to be the only flyable B-24 in the world!

What happened to the desert sand colored B-24 owned by the CAF? Did it crash, or is it no longer flightworthy?

-James Hefner
Hebrews 10:20a

Surviving World Steam Project

Not sure, James. The CAF website states that their B-24 is one of only 2 or 3 Liberators "still flying" in the world. While the Collings Foundation website states unequivocally that theirs is the only flyable B-24.

http://www.collingsfoundation.org/tour_b-24j.htm

If you have the means and the resources to do it, try to secure hosting a "Day Out With Thomas" event.
If its done properly and you have a good event coordinator, you will make a ton of money. If you have a bunch of people trying to do it themselves that really don't have any knowledge or experience in organizing an event this large, then forget it! It will be a lot of work for very little profit.
But as I said, if you know what you are doing, DO IT!

It would be wise to strike a balance between the project and the event - in terms of scope, style, etc. You won't restore a shops complex in a small community with the proceeds of annual bake sales, but you might come up with enough TEA / DOT matching funds to repaint the old depot in 5 years.

dave

Not to drag this any further off topic but the CAF's plane is technically an LB-30, so that is likely why the Colling's Foundation can make that claim.

Roger

"The Collings Foundation has the only flyable B-24 open to the public. "

There was one in the Tulsa area a few years ago that was privatley owned.

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WNDU Channel 16 did a spot on the National New York Central Museum's (Elkhart, Indiana) "Touch a Truck" program this past weekend:

http://www.wndu.com/news/102006/news_53065.php

Visitors had to pay $3 to view all different types of trucks at their museum that people brought in. Any similar types of activities at other museums? I also visited a museum in Ohio this past summer that used bingo to raise money.

As far as Thomas, What if they already have Thomas less than 50 miles away and the people who run it won't even talk to you about it. We've been locked out of Thomas for years and they don't even want to talk. Even when we have the ability to handle more people than the other group.
Our Tracks start right at the county Fiar gorunds that handle 200,000 people a week with out a problem. Restrooms, buildings, Satilite sheriff's department and Ambulance service on site? not a problem.
I guess if your not one of the "chosen few" your out of luck.

Getting back to RBarcus' first question on what types of fundraisers have groups conducted in the past; If you think of it, it has been done. There are many ways to raise money, but every way requires a corps of people to do it. Even a simple raffle will raise a lot of money if someone is willing to sell tickets.

While I'm not familiar with the North Judson operation or projects, what I would suggest is that you decide on how much money you need to raise, and look at your options. If you are well known in your community, you could actually hire a telemarketer to raise funds. A civic group that I belong to has a telemarketer call day in and day out. She takes 70% of the money raised. That might sound steep, but she delivers. So far this year, her calls have netted us over $16,000. To do this she pulls in over $55,000. For smaller amounts, you could raffle off the chance to ride in the cab, or possibly a private caboose ride for the family. Use what you have. I think the "event chasers" won't notice, but your regular visitors will appreciate your effort.

Finally, get out there. Your neighbors can break you if they don't like you. Attend local fairs and functions to keep your name in the papers and in the public's mind.

While you can define a single project or campaign with accurate costs and goals, you will probably need to take advantage of a myriad of fundraisers. And I heartily agree that it takes an effort for any of them. In this community we are generally budget restricted and undercapitalized, so it is a hard pill to swallow; but the most successful moneyraisers are often the folks willing to hire a skilled person to do that as his primary job. VERY TOUGH to know in advance if an applicant will produce, but when they do it is astounding. And most tangible results take months if not years to develop, such as grants and matching funds.

Bob Kutella, still looking for a great executive director/fundraiser/grantwriter/schmoozer

Our NRHS chapter has helped restore a depot and operates a small museum and model railroad. What we have found that works are:

a) Annual Train show. Our 5th Annual North Carolina Railroad Expo will be next April, and it is our primary fund raiser.

b) Ask local companies for support. Many companies will gladly give out $25-$200 for a local preservation activity. While not much individually, it adds up over time. If you are a non-profit- state so in your solicitation letter- it really does help.

c) Donation jar at open houses. Not much to rake in, but the effort is minimal and $20 for an afternoon with no required manpower and no material save the jar is a good ROI.

Matt Bumgarner
Alexander Chapter- NRHS

Folks,

This month the western Railway Museum will run our Pumpkin Patch Trains that provide transportation to the neighborhood patch with a petting zoo, traction rides, hay bale castle etc.

Some of the passengers actually stop to look at some of our other exhibits.

I am surprised that no one has mentioned train rides in this thread. Museums give rides in everything from speeders to 4-8-4 steam engines. And electric Birney cars to Interurban trains. All of these still make a lot of dollars for rail museums.

Ted Miles

If you've got a dinner in good condition, preferably one from the pre-Amtrak era you can host a diner in the dinner. Pick a meal that would have been served in a real railroad dinner. You've probably already got a book on meal served on trains in your book shop. The only problem will be with your members who will complain that at $175 bucks a ticket they are being priced out of the market. It also helps if you're in a large or medium size city.